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COUGAR CLASSIC ROUNDUP (3-8-18)

Valhalla scores on a wild pitch on Thursday against High Tech San Diego.

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

COUGAR CLASSIC

WEST HILLS 3, WESTVIEW 1

Pitching and some offense went a long way for the Wolf Pack in their victory over the Wolverines.

Both teams matched each other in the first inning, however in the top of the second inning Ashliegh Hartwig (1-1, R) led off with a walk and Star Gaylord (1-1, R, 2 RBI, HR) came up and absolutely crushed the offering over the center field fence for the 2-run jack to put the Pack up 2-0.

Moving to the top of the third inning with the Wolf Pack still leading and looking for more leadoff hitter Mikayla Cristini walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice and would advance to third via a wild pitch, however, Alyssa Bubar would be retired for the second out of the inning. With the count 3-0 to Carly Bursch the Westview pitcher threw her offering and the catcher couldn’t handle it allowing Cristini to come in and score making it 3-0.

The Wolverines would get back a run in the bottom of the third thanks to a walk, wild pitch and a double to make it 3-1. However, after that Bursch didn’t allow much. However things did get kind of interesting in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out and a miscue allowed the batter to reach, the next batter singled advancing the runner at first to third and the batter advanced to second on the throw. So with one out and the tying runner at second Bursch was able to get out of the jam as she got the next two batters to pop up and end the threat.

On the evening the Pack made the most out of their three hits and also Bursch’s performance as she tossed 5 innings, giving up the 1 R on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3.

 

STEELE CANYON 16, ESCONDIDO 2

The bats for the Cougars once again come alive to take down Escondido as they accumulated 21 hits on the day.

Leading off for the Cougars in the top of the first inning, Jazmin Alvarado (1-3) singled to center, Audrey Bagge (1-4, 3R, 2B) hit into a fielders choice, JJ Venzor (3-5, 2R, RBI, 2B) singled advancing Bagge to second, Maggie Carpenter (1-4, 2R, RBI) singled in which Bagge would score on the throw to make it 1-0. The next batter for Steele Canyon was Bianca Morales (4-4, 4R, 5 RBI, 2 HR) who on a 1-0 count took the offering and jacked it over the fence for the three-run jack to make it 4-0. The Cougars would add a couple more runs as Tayler Thomas (2-2, R) singled, Amanda Whipple (2-2, 2R, RBI) singled, Danelle Directo (2 RBI) reached on an error which allowed both Thomas and Whipple to score making it 6-0.

In the bottom of the first Escondido would get a run back on a solo home run to make it 6-1.

However, Steele Canyon answered right back with more runs in the top of the second inning. With one out, Venzor singled, Carpenter hits a groundball that was misplayed allowing Venzor to score and Carpenter advanced to second base, Morales singled to right field which moved Carpenter to third, however, the ball was misplayed which scored Carpenter and Morales advanced to second. Leading 8-1 the Cougars added more as Whipple singled scoring Morales to make it 9-1. They added another run a couple batters later.

Grace Richter (2-4, 2 RBI) was solid in the circle as she stymied Escondido in the bottom of the second inning despite giving up a one out single.

A couple more runs for the Cougars in the top of the third made it 12-1 as Bagge led off with a double and would come into score.

Leading 13-2 heading into the top of the fifth inning leadoff hitter Morales did it once again as she hammered a solo home run to make it 14-2 for her second one of the day.

Also contributing for the Cougars was Carly Logan who went 2-2, scored a run and drove in a run.

Richter on the day in the circle went 5 innings for the complete-game victory, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, walked 1 and struck out 5.

 

VALHALLA 5, HIGH TECH HIGH SD 3

The Norsemen bats come up big late to garner the come from behind victory.

Valhalla tried to get the momentum early in the top of the first inning as Rachel Shelstrom walked with one out followed by a Kennedy Labshere (2-4, R, 2B) single to put runners on first and second. Unfortunately, both would be stranded as the next two batters would be retired to end the inning.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the second, the Storm changed that as they took a 2-0 lead thanks to a 2-run home run.

High Tech SD would add another run in the bottom of the third to lead 3-0.

Now trailing the Norsemen were looking for something to happen and indeed that did as Victoria Villegas (1-4, 2R, 2 RBI, HR) took the 1-1 count and smashed a solo home run to bring Valhalla within 3-1.

A couple batters later Samantha Green (2-3, R, RBI, HR) matched Villegas as she jacked a solo shot to make it 3-2. Now with momentum, the next batter Kelly Olson walked, she stole second, she would later come around to score to tie the game at 3-3 on a wild pitch.

Just like that, the Norsemen had all the momentum as their bats came alive heading into the top of the fifth. The momentum continued as Labshere ripped a leadoff double, she advanced to third on another wild pitch and scored on a fielders choice by Villegas who was able to advance to second on the throw, a couple batters later Green hit into a fielders choice and Villegas advanced to third, Olson walked to load the bases, a couple batters later Lexi Schmehr (RBI) walked which scored Villegas to make it 5-3.

High Tech threatened in the bottom half of the inning with two outs as they reached on a miscue followed by a single but Delaney Stettler would retire the next batter to end the threat and the inning.

Stettler for Valhalla on the day went 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4.

 

SANTANA 8, MT. CARMEL 5

The Sultans survives a push by the Sun Devils to pull out the victory.

Both teams held each other in check but in the fourth inning the Sultans figured things out with some offense. With one out, Nicole Madrigal (1-3, R) singled, Natalie Sims (RUN) walked, a couple batters later with 2 outs Emma Leggett (2-2, 2R, RBI, 2B) smoked a double that scored Madrigal to make it 1-0 and Sims advanced to third, Brittany Munday (RUN) walked to load the bases. Up stepped Madison Mendez (2-4, R, 4 RBI, HR) who took the offering and bopped it high and far over the fence that it was a without a doubt grand slam to make it 5-0.

Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last as the Sun Devils took advantage of their opportunities in the bottom of the fourth inning off Sultans pitcher Joey Barkhimer. An error and multiple base hits would pull them within 5-4.

The Sultans had an opportunity in the top of the fifth as Krysten Service (2-4, RBI) singled to lead things off, Barkhimer followed with a walk. However, the next three batters would be retired to end the inning and threat.

Moving to the top of the sixth still leading by a run the Sultans looked for more. Leadoff hitter Leggett was hit by a pitch, she advanced to second when Erica Reid (1-1, R, RBI) laid down a bunt and was safe on the hit, Leggett would score on the throw making it 6-4 and Reid would advance to second, She moved to third when Mendez laced a single, Mackenzie Sims (RUN) into run, Mackenzie Bennett (2-4, RBI) followed with a base hit to score Reid and Sims advanced to third, Service hit into a fielders choice to score Sims to push the lead to 8-4.

Mount Carmel would find a way to take advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning to push a run across to make it 8-5. That would be all they would get as Mendez who came in relief shut them down.

Garnering the victory for the Sultans was Barkhimer who went 4 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 1 was earned on 5 hits while walking 1 and fanning 2 for her first career varsity victory. Mendez came in and tossed 2 innings, giving up 1 run on 1 hit, walked 1 to get the save in relief.

 

 

 

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